Proactive Energy Planning: Cape Chamber talks energy with top Western Cape Government’s expert

As the global energy landscape continues to evolve, the Western Cape government is proactively addressing its energy needs to foster economic growth amidst continued load shedding.

That’s according to Premier Alan Winde’s Special Advisor on Energy, Alwie Lester, who spoke to Cape Chamber about the importance of energy planning and its impact on business. In particular, Lester highlighted the significance of discussing the energy landscape in order to inform decision-making.

Lester stressed the need for public-private collaboration to address energy sector challenges. He stressed the role of renewable energy, such as solar power, as a viable option for the Province.

"The implementation of programs like the Resilience Program and the New Generation Programme aims to explore renewable energy options and develop a sustainable energy future," said Lester.

The adverse effects of load shedding on the economy were also addressed, as Lester emphasized that the province experienced a substantial economic impact due to load shedding, amounting to billions of rand.

"While the maintenance schedule of Eskom might alleviate some issues, load shedding is expected to persist during summer months," he said.

Furthermore, Lester acknowledged that options like solar panels and inverters might not be financially feasible for everyone and said that alternative energy sources like gas, and the use of products such as geyser blankets could be used to reduce energy consumption.

"On the social front, we've identified 100 schools that we'd like to add PV to as a first phase of a strategic partnership," said Lester.

"And as a second phase, that would include inverters and batteries for those schools... and we looking to do the same approach for hospitals and clinics," he said.

Looking ahead, the energy initiatives in the Western Cape are anticipated to attract people to the province, potentially leading to economic growth. The energy programme serves as a catalyst for the planning of other infrastructure projects, including water and transportation.